The Hollow Crown (Kingfountain #4)(82)

King Drew nodded vigorously. “Indeed there was. It brought back the memories of my childhood. I suspected that it was your father’s secret plan to attack his enemies with a storm, but the sleet and hail I expected never came.”

“He shared no such plan with me,” Sinia said. “Only someone who could use the ley lines could have done it.”

“Morwenna?” the queen asked with a tone of suspicion.

The king shook his head. “According to Lord Amrein, she was with Owen the entire time and helped fight the attackers after he disappeared.”

“Then it must have been one of the other Wizrs,” Sinia said at last. “One who knew the story of the grove.”

The pale-haired Rucrius came to Trynne’s mind, and anger formed a white-hot ball in her chest.

“We must get to the council,” King Drew said. “We must make plans to defend ourselves. Without the assistance of Lord Owen or Myrddin. What happened is a great mystery. Everyone seeks Owen in Brugia, but Trynne’s knowledge leads us elsewhere.” He tapped his bottom lip. “There’s a Fountain-blessed hunter in Dundrennan. He was a lad when I first met him, but he’s a man grown now. Carrick. He knew Lord Owen well and is loyal and discreet. He’s the one who found my sword in the ice caves. Lady Sinia, I suggest we use him to examine the grove for additional clues. It is a singular place.”

“Indeed, my lord,” Sinia said with a grateful nod.

Trynne wrestled with her feelings of despair, grief, and hope. She was still perplexed as to why only her father’s hand had been left behind. If he had been killed, surely they would have left the corpse behind. It was a sign that he had been taken, not murdered. She could imagine the pain he was suffering. At least he had the raven-marked scabbard on his person.

“Then we shall go to the council,” the king said confidently. “Trynne—your assistance has been invaluable. You should be in attendance as well. I know Genny favors your advice.” The king gave his wife an apologetic look. “And it seems, my dear, that you were right all along. With so many losses, so many dead, we will need every able man and woman to defend this realm when Gahalatine’s army rouses itself. We will need Oath Maidens. Would that I could snap my finger and summon them into existence.” He gave Trynne a sorrowful look. “I wish I had heeded your counsel when you first suggested it.”

Trynne felt a flush spread across her cheeks. She bowed her head. “Thank you, my lord.”

“Having a man, a king at that, admit that he was wrong is compliment enough,” the queen said wryly. “I would like to confer a moment with Trynne. We will join you for supper later. I have some ideas on this subject already.”

“Very well,” the king said. He proffered the crook of his arm to Trynne’s mother in a gallant gesture. Sinia gave Trynne a forced smile that did not reach her sad eyes, then took the king’s arm and followed him out of the solar.

Genevieve watched the door swing shut. Her expression changed into one of condolence, and she pulled Trynne into a fierce hug. “My poor dear,” she said soothingly, sniffling. “You were at the battle yourself, yet could not speak of it. No one knows but we two and Captain Staeli.” She pulled away and took Trynne’s hands. “If you had been in Ploemeur, do you think you would have felt the magic of the grove? I could not ask this in front of your mother. She was with me at Kingfountain and did not feel the magic summoning your father. Nor did she have a vision about it. Isn’t that strange?”

Trynne shook her head. “My mother cannot control her visions. They are glimpses into the future. But their purpose is to teach her the Fountain’s will. If I had been in Ploemeur, I would have gone to the grove immediately. And if I had, I don’t know what would have happened. Perhaps I would have been abducted. Two pieces lost instead of one from the Wizr board. The Fountain bade me to protect the king. I knew that’s where I needed to be. I thought I could save my father as well, but . . .” She paused, shaking her head.

“Maybe you still can,” Genevieve said firmly, squeezing Trynne’s shoulder. “We will search for him, dearest. Believe that. But for now, we must prepare to defend Kingfountain. My husband told me that the invaders could practically fly. That their ships dwarf ours in size. How did they assemble such a fleet? How did they acquire such strange powers?”

Trynne shook her head. “I don’t know. But I know this. It wasn’t magic that made those warriors fly. I would have felt it. They are different from us, my lady. What manner of men these people are, I don’t know. But I do know that Gahalatine is honorable . . . in the realm of warfare. He could have vanquished us easily. Once he suspected betrayal, he called off the attack. His reputation was more precious to him than a quick victory. He’s not an evil man in the manner we supposed. Ambitious, to be sure! But there is so little we know about the Chandigarli. We have only Morwenna’s interpretation of them.”

Genevieve’s eyes narrowed. “Indeed. I think it may be wise to learn more through a different source.” She gave Trynne a knowing look. “Would you be willing to go there yourself?”

Trynne could not hold back her smile.

“Let’s confer before you leave,” Genevieve said. “The council will be convening in several days when the others return safely to Kingfountain. Walk with me.” Arm in arm, they left the solar and started toward the council. “My husband plans to invest Prince Elwis as the new Grand Duke of Brugia. He says the man’s countenance has changed. He’s more subdued now. Less resentful. He’s bearing the full brunt of leadership.”